CONTINUING PROJECT AT LOS RICOS

Last Wednesday we went to Los Ricos. We had many tasks to accomplish. First, Bob personally replaced the fuses at the point where electrical power enters the school property from the Federal power commission. He would have preferred not to have done this but he didn't want to delegate this dangerous task to anybody else. We still expect to replace the fuse box with a circuit breaker box before we return to Michigan. Funding seems to be in place and we just need the final sign-off from the school principal.

Eli, who is 75+ years old, replaced the electrical switch in the 5th/6th grade classroom and for the first time we had some lights working on both sides of the room. However, we now need a light bulb in one of the fixtures so that's a new project. You probably think that's going to be easy.



We need a power line for a computer in the 3rd/4th grade. Maybe some day we'll get one. So, in the meantime, we rigged up an extension cord as a temporary fix. This extension cord will also be fed through a broken window to power the stereo system used by the kids to practice dancing. They will be featured dancers at an upcoming fund raiser for Feed the Hungry and they will dance for us later this month.

Next, Bob had to test the refurbished computer he installed last week in the 5th/6th grade classroom. Thankfully it worked well.

Back to the 3rd/4th grade class. Why? The teacher told Bob the keyboard (teclado) was not working. He checked it out and found that the PS/2 plug was missing half of the prongs needed to plug it in. Bob ordered a new keyboard from Computadoras Pro Jovenes which should be delivered to the school by Feed the Hungry's food driver on Tuesday and working this Wednesday. Bob is now officially the liaison between Computadoars Pro Jovenes and the Los Rico school.

Back over to the 5th/6th grade class to get Rosetta Stone working on the Federal computer so Sam can use the Smart Board. Prior to installing Rosetta Stone on the Federal computer the kids literally used flyswatters to select their answer to a Rosetta Stone question and Bob controlled a mouse and clicked on the picture they hit with the flyswatter. The Smart Board acts as a touch screen and the kids just have to touch the picture they select and the Smart Board registers their answer. This is only available in the 5th/6th grade class.

And so it went, room-by-room and back-and-forth so as not to disturb Sam and the other teachers.

After class we had the opportunity to spend some time with two of our sixth graders, Ailyn and Gerardo.  The Morrin/Zimmerman Fund will be their financial sponsor for the 7th, 8th and 9th grades.  Ailyn and Gerardo are two of eleven brothers and sisters.  Ailyn is number eight and Gerardo is number seven.  The photos shows Ailyn, Gerardo and two of their siblings who are also students at Los Ricos.  Both are in the sixth grade because Gerardo was held back one year becasue he had been working in the fields and missed a lot of school time. 

We also have a fifth grader in our class this year, Estrella.  She is a bright student and the Morrin/Zimmerman Fund is considering sponsoring her as well.  Next year she will be in the 6th grade and we will make our final decsion at that time.  Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the Morrin/Zimmerman Fund. 

Lots more work available for anybody who wants it. We need a janitor/maintenance man. Some Spanish would be good. Definitely must have a car or SUV with high clearance and with good flotation ability. By the way, the pay is bad, you don't get any, and you must personally pay for any and all supplies and equipment you use.